Thursday, January 29, 2015

The Gist of Fashion School

Most people don't know what being a fashion student really means. Truthfully, I didn't know what I was in for when I got to fashion school either.

"'What is fashion school anyway?''
''Are your parents okay with you studying that?''
''So you do dress making?''
''When are you going to sew for us?''
''Oh so it's a certificate?''            


These are all some commonly asked questions I've been getting for the past three years, with that said, here is my answer. I am in my third and final year now, at the Leaders in the Science of Fashion (LISOF) Academy in Johannesburg. After this year I will receive a degree qualification for a Bachelor of Arts in Commercial Fashion. I am proud of what I do.

Me outside LISOF.

                A backdrop at LISOF that depicts possible careers for its students.


So, no. I don't know a thing about sewing and I can't make you an amazing piece of apparel. I can however, give you insight about trend forecasting and merchandising mathematics as well as a theoretical approach to fashion. I study the business side of fashion which consists of majors like: Buying and Merchandising (where we are taught that there is more to this career than just buying and selling clothing like analysis of finance, budgeting and the importance of human relations) ; Marketing (where we are taught that creativity can take you to places you wouldn't even believe) and Media (where we are taught about blogs, print media, radio and film) all within the realm of the fashion industry.

As the year proceeds I look forward to posting regular updates on my blog, about all the grand challenges I will be facing this year, from fashion films that my peers and I have to create, to opportunities like setting up a  major charity event (watch this space) as part of our Project Management subject for LISOF, I simply cannot wait!            

An inside view of LISOF:








For my first day back at campus I wore:

A bicycle patterned printed shirt from cotton on;
"hand me down" boyfriend jeans from my sister;
my timberland look a likes also from Cotton On;
my husbands bicycle patterned bow tie (which I didn't know how to put on so instead I just wore it loosely). To finish off the look, a bag and watch, both hand made in Thailand.

Detailed view of my shirt and bow tie and watch.




This year is going to be the most exciting year as I plan to leave, with a bang!

Third year LISOF let's go!























Sunday, January 25, 2015

Notes on Shoes:

Shoes! Shoes! Shoes!
 I was browsing through my twitter feed the other day and stumbled across an interesting article by The Huffington Post, “11 Facts About Shoes That Will Knock Your Socks Off.” Out of the 11 facts mentioned, one jumped out at me. Number 6: “There’s more to your shoe addiction than just trying to keep up with trends.”

I knew it! It had to be something that could be diagnosed and thankfully I’m not the only one with the diagnosis. The editor of “Footnotes on Shoes,” Suzanne Ferris describes that a woman’s addiction to shoes actually triggers an area in the brains prefrontal cortex that is called the collecting spot. She says that shoes are a collector’s item to women whether they perceive it to be or not.

How to tell if you’re a ‘shoe addict’? (Which is also synonymously known as a ‘shoe collector’)

1)      You have more than ten pairs of shoes in your closet

2)      You’re running out of space because your shoes take up the bulk amount of your space

3)      When you buy a new pair of shoes it makes you happy...instantly

4)      You plan your outfit around your shoes

5)      Seeing “Buy one get one free” = LIFE MADE

6)      You always NEED another pair of shoes. It’s never just a want.

7)      You deny that you’re addicted to shoes.

Said yes to one or all of the above? Yup, that’s me and, probably you too.

I am a proud shoe owner of 55 pairs of shoes. Here are some of my favourites:

1)      My latest buy from Cotton On, My Timberland look a-likes. Being a student and especially a fashion student I like to buy inexpensive clothing and shoes so that when it goes out of season I don’t feel bad about not wearing it anymore. Instead of paying the usual amount for a pair of Timberland boots, which range between R1200 – R2000, I found these boots for a steal marked at R399.

2)      My little bow gum boots. Apparently I have a knack for bargain buying according to my husband. I found these adorable shoes in Lenasia (who would have thought), for just R170. These are my favourite shoes at the moment.
I bought this Tee on a seventy percent off sale from TopShop for R100 and the Tulle skirt I’m wearing was sewn by my Gran.
 


3)       My FOOD shoes. When I was in Bangkok over the December holidays I came across a mall called Terminal 21. Each floor is made to look and feel like the streets of a major city; one floor is themed like the streets of London and another like the streets of Istanbul. The floor I found these shoes on is themed like the streets of Tokyo, which had more fashion forward and unusual pieces.  It’s safe to say that out of all the places I’ve been to this was the “Disneyland” of shopping malls.

4)      My Oxford look-a-likes. You’ll never guess where these vintage looking shoes are from, a little place called… China town!
 
5)      Why have only one pair of oxford look a-likes when you can have another? This yellow pair was from none other than Mr. Price.

6)      An Oxford variation? For those of you who don’t know, my father is a formal menswear supplier for his own company, Signoir Cravette. His job entails sourcing new goods from places like Turkey, Hong Kong, Korea and China and then importing it to South Africa. On the odd occasion I convince him to get me a pair of shoes to add into my collection. This was an unusual pair that he brought me from Turkey.

7)      My airhostess shoes. These shoes remind me of the kind of shoes the airhostesses on the Emirates flights wear. I occasionally like shoes that other people wouldn’t even dare glancing at. Most of my friends know this and tease me about it, these shoes fall into this category.
 
 
8)      My peep toe lace ups. I found these shoes in 2008 and they’re still going strong, once more they are from China Town. Shoes with laces will take you places!
 

 

 




9)      My pointy black shoes. These shoes are from a store called CPS CHAPS in Thailand. I bought them for fifty percent off the original price.
 

10)  My tan pumps. I bought these shoes in Dubai in 2010 and they are still a staple in my closet.

 
 
"Yes, I'm a shoe addict.
No, I don't need help."


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, January 19, 2015

A Window into our Wedding

 
 

What do people love most about weddings? Dressing up, food? Maybe they enjoy sharing in one of the couple’s happiest moments? My husband and I didn’t even get to taste much of the food, and to be honest the wedding was a fast paced blur. Thankfully, we have photos so that we can relive the moments and also so that we can share some of our best moments with all of you. I for one, love stories with pictures.



For this post I felt that the content needed to be kept short and sweet so that the images could tell the bulk of the tale.



The Décor:

Most people who know me know that I am obsessed with anything vintage, and so picking a theme for our wedding was a given.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Bouquet:
The Dress:

When it comes to shopping I’m not usually an indecisive buyer, if I see something I like my mind is made up there and then. That was the case with my wedding gown too. The boutique I got my dress from was the second store I went dress hunting to; and as soon as I tried on the gown I knew it was fit for me.

The owner and buyer of the store sources all her wedding gowns from Hong Kong, which is said to be a booming industry for wedding attire. My shoes which are from Socratti in Sandton City had cream white bows on them to match my dress. I kept my jewellery simple and wore dainty silver earrings, because I felt like my dress needed to be the one and only bespoke piece.

 
My favourite perfume Bvlgari Rose.
 
 I initially decided on fresh flowers to wear in my hair but I had a change of heart when I saw these exquisite flower combs at Lovisa.

                                                            Ahmed Moola and I.
 
 

                                                            The flower girls, my nieces.
                                            My gran, Mama Haju, sewed their dresses.


 



No modern wedding should be complete without a selfie stick, right?

 
    And they all lived happily ever after...